
CB
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY.
ful of his covenant, they would have gone on, al-
ways invincible, either conquering or converting
the surrounding nations, until their fame and sway
would have extended over the whole earth. Je-
rusalem, the capital, would have stood forever (Jer.
17: 23-26), and thus would have been fulfilled the
promise that they should inherit the earth. Of
course the plan of salvation would necessarily have
been completed in the death of Christ, and the pa-
triarchs would have been raised from the dead to
share in the reign of universal peace.
But they were unfaithful to their trust, and so
they did not enter into the rest which God de-
signed for them. To us the same promise remains,
and we are exhorted to take heed lest we fail to
enter in because of unbelief. If we remain faithful
to the end, to us will come the word of the King,
when he comes in his glory, "Come, ye blessed of
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25:34.
Compare Heb. 4: 3. The whole earth is then given
to the children of men. They do not dwell on it
for more than a thousand years afterward; but they
show that they possess it by dwelling in its capital,
the New Jerusalem, and in sharing with Christ in
his work of pronouncing and executing judgment
upon those who still defile it. See 1 Cor. 6: 2,3;
Jude 14:15. They, with Christ, come into posses-
sion of the earth, in order that they may rid it of
those who have no rightful claim upon it. See Ps.
2:7-9; 149:5-9.
In like manner the ancient Is-
raelites possessed the land in order that they might
root out their enemies. But, unlike them, those
who are finally admitted to the possession will know
no failure; for they will already have gained the
victory over every foe, including death itself. And
so they shall go no more out, but shall inherit the
land forever, and shall delight• themselves in the
abundance of peace.